(CNN) -- Chicago is the third-largest U.S. city, home to nearly 3 million people and the gateway to America's heartland. Like many other cities, it's working hard to combat violent gangs that make it dangerous to grow up in certain neighborhoods.

Things may be turning around under Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy:Murders have dropped under his leadership. And he says the city's violent reputation is "way overblown."

Here are some of the organizations featured in the CNN series that you can help to make Chicago a safer, stronger city:

1. Program to keep kids off the streets

Soccer, theater, creative writing, culinary arts -- these are much better alternatives for high school children who might otherwise be on the streets between the time they get out of school and their parents come home from work. These activities are part of a program called After School Matters, set up in 1991 by Maggie Daley, the late wife of former Mayor Richard M. Daley.

After School Matters raises money by selling some of the art made by teenagers in the after-school programs:

It's no surprise that Chicago has a thriving arts scene. Yet the world-class museums, theaters and concert halls might as well be a world away for many residents. To change that, several organizations are bringing the arts scene to all of Chicago. Teens in the diverse Albany Park neighborhood can channel their artistic expression onstage at the Albany Park Theater Project.

For future singers, the Chicago Children's Choir offers opportunities in 65 schools across the city to "(empower) singers to bridge cultural divides and become ambassadors of peace in their communities." And the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Institute for Learning, Access and Training is helping develop the next generation of musicians across all areas of the city.

4. Back to nature

Organic produce is a rare sight in many of Chicago's poorer neighborhoods, but one organization is not only addressing that problem -- it's employing people in sustainable jobs to cultivate and distribute healthy fruits and vegetables.

President Barack Obama got his political start in Chicago, and there's a good chance that another future American president is learning about civic leadership with the help of organizations such as Mikva Challenge and the Urban Alliance.

Mikva Challenge, named after former U.S. Rep. Abner Mikva and his wife, Zoe, a longtime education activist, strives to "help low-income Chicago youth become meaningful actors in politics." The organization has trained more than 20,000 young people to learn how to participate in Chicago's political process. It even helped Fenger High School organize a peace march, featured on "Chicagoland."

The Urban Alliance started an internship program in 2012, helping high school students learn key job skills and develop relationships with major business partners. All interns have graduated on time from Chicago public high schools, and nearly all are attending college.

If you read the headlines out of Chicago on Easter weekend -- more than 40 shot, including nine killed -- you might be surprised to learn that the city's homicide rate is still trending downward, according to the police chief.